Translation of the Foundational Helping Skills Training Manual and REACHNow Training Manual into Amharic

Background

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia (SOS CVE) is strengthening its Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programming and the capacity of staff, volunteers, caregivers, and community-based service providers to deliver quality psychosocial support services.

As part of this effort, SOS CVE intends to translate two key MHPSS training resources into Amharic:

1. Foundational Helping Skills Training Manual, developed by World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, which provides a competency-based approach for training helpers in foundational psychosocial support and communication skills
2. REACHNOW is a training resource designed to equip community gatekeepers with skills to identify children and adolescents who may require mental health support and encourage help-seeking.

The translated versions will be used for training, capacity building, supervision, and implementation of MHPSS interventions in SOS CVE programmes.

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to produce high-quality Amharic translations of the two manuals that are:

• Technically accurate.
• Contextually appropriate for Ethiopia.
• Easy to understand for trainers and participants.
• Consistent with MHPSS, safeguarding, and child protection terminology.
• Suitable for publication, training, and operational use.

Objectives

The translator/translation firm shall:

• Translate the two manuals from English into Amharic.
• Maintain the original meaning, technical accuracy, and intent.
• Ensure consistency of MHPSS, safeguarding, child protection, and training terminology.
• Adapt language to the Ethiopian context without altering technical content.
• Produce publication-ready Amharic versions.
• Incorporate comments from SOS CVE during quality review.

Scope of Work

The consultant shall undertake the following tasks:

Task 1: Document Review

• Review both manuals thoroughly.
• Familiarize themselves with MHPSS, psychosocial support, safeguarding, and mental health terminology.
• Identify key technical terms requiring consistent translation.

Task 2: Translation

Translate the following documents into Amharic:

1. Foundational Helping Skill : Comprehensice  Competenc-based MHPSS training Manual for adult helpers
2. ReachNow Training Manual: Training Manual for community gatekeepers supporting child and adolescent mental health help-seeking

Translation shall include:

• Narrative text
• Learning objectives
• Key messages
• Session guides
• Training activities
• Tables
• Figures and diagrams text
• Annexes
• Assessment tools
• Handouts
• Trainer guidance notes

Task 3: Quality Assurance

The consultant shall:

• Conduct self-editing and proofreading.
• Ensure consistency in technical terminology.
• Verify completeness and accuracy.
• Submit clean and editable versions.

Task 4: Review and Revision

• Participate in one technical review meeting with SOS CVE.
• Incorporate feedback from SOS CVE.
• Finalize documents.

Deliverables

• Translation Workplan and glossary of Key Terms
• Draft Amharic  translation of Foundational Helping Skills Manual
• Draft  Amharic Translation of ReachNow Training Manual
• Final Revised Amharic Version of both documents incorporating feedback

Expected Quality Standards

The translated manuals should: – use professional Amharic language, grammatically correct, culturally appropriate, maintain technical accuracy, use consistent terminology throughout, Preserve original tables, numbering, headings, and formatting, Be suitable for training facilitators, community workers, caregivers, and programme staff.

Key Technical Areas

The consultant should have familiarity with terminology related to:

• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH)
• Psychological First Aid (PFA)
• Child and Youth Safeguarding
• Alternative Care
• Family Strengthening
• Youth Development
• Humanitarian Action
• Community-based MHPSS
• Trauma-informed Care
• Referral Pathways
• Ethics and Confidentiality

Duration of Assignment

The assignment is expected to be completed within 25 working days from contract signature.

Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy National Director and collaborate with the Safeguarding and Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Team SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia

Required Qualifications

The consultant/firm should possess:

Education:- Bachelor’s degree or higher in: Psychology Social Work, Public Health, Mental Health, Related fields

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of professional translation experience.
• Proven experience translating training manuals and technical documents.
• Experience in MHPSS, child protection, safeguarding, education, health, or humanitarian sectors.
• Excellent English-Amharic translation skills.

Desirable

• Previous work with international NGOs, UN agencies, or development organizations.
• Experience translating WHO, UNICEF, or mental health-related materials.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection terminology.